Self Help
Read a list of self help groups in St. Johns County with contact information and scheduled meeting times.

Neighbors: Downtown news, notes
"I almost got hit in the head with a Christmas tree that someone threw out the second story window on Christmas day," said Bishop Robert Baker of Charleston, S.C. He told us this anecdote earlier this month when we visited. Using his official call to teaching, Bishop Baker said the falling tree prompted him to tell people that Christmas is a season. It begins Dec. 20 and ends on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord on Jan. 9. The idea is to celebrate Christmas for a whole season.

People: 'Sideways' named best film by SFCA
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- "Sideways," a comedy about two friends on a wine-tasting road trip through California, was named best film of 2004 and Alexander Payne was named best director by the Southeastern Film Critics Association.

Cooking that Christmas goose
Goose has a long history as traditional Christmas fare, especially in Europe -- where, of course, they didn't have turkeys until such New World novelties began to catch on.

An apple a day ...
The apple is probably the most famous fruit in history. It may have been an apple that tempted Eve, but it has been a blessing to people ever since. Scholars agree apples may have originated in southwest Asia where the Bible places the Garden of Eden. Stone age dwellers ate and preserved apples centuries ago in Europe.

Cooking on the run: Pecan-encrusted mountain trout
Here's a simply stylish dinner recipe with a Georgia flavor that will take only about half an hour to make, using fresh trout sauteed in a pecan-bread crumb crust, and served with a buttery sage sauce.

Recipe Finder: Tuna/Potato-chip casserole
Kathy Cotugno of Woodstock, Ill., was looking for a recipe for a tuna-and-potato-chip casserole that did not contain any noodles. Many readers sent us the same recipe for this old-fashioned classic.

This Christmas dessert is trifle extravagance
The recipe for this version of a creamy, fruity Christmas trifle is from the cookbook "Holiday Fare: Favorite Williamsburg Recipes" (Colonial Williamsburg, 2004, $19.95) by John R. Gonzales, who confirms that trifle has a long history.

Great-grandma's American chop suey was the best
CONCORD, N.H. -- Almost anything. For a chance to flip one more time through my great-grandmother's recipe box, I would give almost anything. Just for a chance to jot down a few of the favorites by this woman I considered a second mother.

Food notes
Fizz in Your Fruit: Izze Beverage Co. has come up with a drink designed to please kids as well as grown-ups.

Q&A on pain relievers
DETROIT -- The 20 million Americans who routinely take pain medicines are scurrying for answers, now that a fourth drug -- Aleve, sold generically as naproxen -- has been linked to a greater risk of heart problems.

Dr. Donohue: Breathlessness, fatique: Signs of heart failure
DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am a 68-year-old woman, and I suffer from congestive heart failure. For quite some time I would rapidly become short of breath. I found it hard to do my housework. What is it, and how did I get it? What's the best treatment? I am on medicine now and feel better. -- K.P.

Prospects better than ever for treating rare disorder disease
Cheryl Argiros of Coventry, Conn., already has participated in four clinical trials of experimental treatments for scleroderma, a disease that turns skin to the consistency of mahogany. It has scarred her lungs and turned her hands into claws.

Dr. Donohue: Heartburn can lead to Barrett's esophagus
DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have read what you have to say about heartburn many times, but I haven't read what you have to say about Barrett's esophagus. My doctor says I have it and that I have a chance of getting cancer from it. Would you explain the connection and what kind of risk I face? -- C.C.

Dallas agrees to USDA fine in gorilla escape
DALLAS -- The city of Dallas will reluctantly pay a $10,000 fine levied by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the March escape of a gorilla from the Dallas Zoo, Mayor Laura Miller said.

Study finds modest drop in teen drug use
WASHINGTON -- Fewer teenagers are smoking cigarettes or using illegal drugs, but a survey released Tuesday shows a troubling increase in the use of inhalants by younger adolescents.

To save corridor, county appeals permit
St. Johns County taxpayers could be $2 million lighter if St. Johns River Water Management District approves a proposed mitigation plan for the North-South Corridor next month, county officials said Tuesday.

Police Report: Jail Log
The following was compiled from police reports collected from the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office (SJCSO), St. Augustine Police Department (SAPD) and St. Augustine Beach Police Department (SABPD):

Man found stabbed
A 19-year-old Ponte Vedra Beach man was found with stab wounds all over his body in a parking lot early Tuesday morning, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office. Two men are being sought on the charge of attempted murder.

Corrections
The Record seeks to correct all mistakes. If you see an error in the newspaper that needs to be corrected, please call Editor Peter Ellis at (904) 819-3517.

Mathis will retire in January
With a lifetime of professional accomplishments marking his trail, St. Johns County Circuit Court Judge Robert K. Mathis announced Wednesday that he is resigning to spend more time clearing away the wilderness that personal tragedy has created.

Flagler College planning student center
Flagler College is proposing to build a 50,000-square-foot student center that could cost up to $9.5 million on King Street by the college's campus in the center of downtown.

For the Record
Homeowners are asked to be especially careful with any outdoor fires during this holiday season, said Charles Bronson, commissioner for Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

William Gause
william "Bill" Gause, 84, of St. Augustine, died Dec. 21, 2004, at his home. Mr. Gause was born in Alta Loma, Texas, and was a Pearl Harbor survivor, serving in the United States Marine Corps for six years during World War II. He had worked for many years at the Appliance Center on St. George Street and later on Anastasia Island. Mr. Gause also worked at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. Mr. Gause was a long- time member of First United Methodist Church of St. Augustine.

Justine Marie Fernandes
Justine Marie Fernandes, 17, of Elkton, died Dec. 19, 2004, in St. Augustine from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. She was born in Meriden, Conn., and had resided in St. Augustine for the past 15 years. She was a senior at Pedro Menendez High School. She was a member of St. Johns County 4-H.

Robert W. Sells
Robert W. Sells, 41, of St. Augustine, died Dec. 18, 2004. Mr. Sells was born in Melbourne and had resided in St. Augustine for the past five months, moving here from Satellite Beach. Mr. Sells had been employed as a salesman with a wine and liquor distributorship.

Ernest R. Bowling
Ernest R. Bowling, 83, of St. Augustine, died Dec. 19, 2004, at his home. Mr. Bowling was a native of Perry County, Ky., and had resided here since 1993. Mr. Bowling was a carpenter.

Dallas Conrad
Dallas Conrad, 81, of St. Augustine, passed away Dec. 19, 2004, at Samantha Wilson Bayview Nursing Home. He was born in Enon, N.C., in 1922, which is a little town outside of Winston- Salem. He lived, worked and played on the family farm until the age of 13, when he decided to leave and move to Miami. At 13, he began to work at a tomato-picking plant in Homestead, until age 15, when he began working for the Southern Bell Telegraph and Telephone Service. At 21, he joined the Marine Corps and went overseas and fought in World War II. While fighting in World War II, he received the Bronze Star for outstanding heroism in combat while fighting in Iwo Jima. He also received the Purple Heart for being wounded during that fight. The Secretary of State of the United States of America decorated him for his efforts in World War II. He fought in four major battles -- Iwo Jima, Saipan, Tinian and Roi Namur. He also fought in an additional 53 battles where only few survived. Dallas was one of the honored guests recently invited by the Department of Defense to the commissioning of the USS Iwo Jima. After World War II, he continued to work for Southern Bell for approximately 50 years. He has lived in Miami most of his life, but also has a home in St. Augustine, where he vacationed and visited his wife's family, Margaret Booth, who passed away two years ago.

Marion Donald Baker
Marion Donald Baker, 87, of St. Augustine, died Dec. 21, 2004, at Moultrie Creek Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Mr. Baker was born in Uhrichsville, Ohio, and had resided in St. Augustine for the past 17 years, moving here from Ohio. Mr. Baker was retired from Motor Express, where he had worked as a traffic manager. Mr. Baker was a member of Memorial Lutheran Church.

Joseph Wolstenholme
Joseph "Joe" Wolstenholme Sr., 54 of Elkton, died Dec. 22, 2004, at his home. He was born in Norwood, Mass., and had resided in St. Augustine since 1989. He was a retired Trucking Company Sales manager. He was of the Catholic Faith.

Neil Thomas Castleberry
Neil Thomas Castleberry, 58, of St. Augustine, died Dec. 20, 2004, at Flagler Hospital. Mr. Castleberry was born in Jacksonville and had resided in St. Augustine for the past 20 years, moving here from Jacksonville. Mr. Castleberry owned and operated a trucking and packing company in Hastings. Mr. Castleberry was a member of the Northeast Florida Marlins Association, and he was of the Baptist faith.

Perspective: Blogs blow away all other media forums
If you're going to peddle opinions for a living, self-assurance is essential. If you don't have it, you need to bluff. People don't want to read a lot of "Oh dear, this is so terribly complicated, I just can't make up my poor little mind. ..." Many's the pundit who has retired on full disability after developing a tragic tendency to see both sides of the issue.

Letter: Pregnancy and teens
Editor: As much as I appreciate the good works of the St. Gerard campus, a few points ought to be made here.

Perspective:On the right: Anti-Semitism on the air?
An honored friend, charging that there has been anti- Semitism on the air, sends along the offending transcript, and I read through MSNBC's "Scarborough Country" (for Dec. 8) and found some noisy people discussing Hollywood. The question before the house: Will "The Passion of the Christ" win the relevant Oscar, or will it be "Fahrenheit 9/11"? The seven guests of Pat Buchanan, who was the MC that evening, included a rabbi (Shmuley Boteach) and the president of the Catholic League (Bill Donohue).

Letter: Commissiers: Get a grip
Editor: Our commissioners seem to be able to find $30 million-plus to purchase a utility which is working fine and we do not need. Yet they cannot find the funds to purchase park lands which we do need. Example; Cooksey's Campground on the island and the Ponce resort golf course, both of which are close to the city.

Letter: Dear Santa ...
Editor: At Christmas time, with our family, it was always a tradition that we could ask Santa Claus for one relatively expensive item. Not one to break tradition, this year I am going to ask Santa for one tomato.

Letter: Press is key to our constitutional freedoms
Editor: I applaud The Record for its editorial of Dec. 15, "Bill of Rights is Promise of freedom for us all." But I find it unfortunate, if instructive, that you failed to mention Freedom of the Press as one of our "better known" rights.

Letter: Where are our values?
Editor: I heard on Channel 12 Monday at 6 p.m., that the Christmas Tree was removed from the new Federal Court House in Jacksonville, because they didn't want to offend anyone.

Perspective: Around the nation
While griping in the ranks is a military tradition, a member of the Tennessee National Guard took it to a new level when Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who had dropped by a base in Kuwait for a brief pep talk, got peppered himself instead.

Dolphins didn't look hapless Monday
MIAMI (AP) -- Miami already knew it would be home for the playoffs. The Dolphins may have also ensured that New England will have to win once on the road to reach another Super Bowl.

Diver documents Florida's freshwater springs
POPKA, Fla. -- Growing up in Miami, Todd Garland never saw a freshwater spring until he attended Florida State University a few years back. Garland, now 29, joined the FSU dive club and promptly jumped in. He instantly became captivated.

2004 Girls Golf All-County team
A first-team selection last season, Cross enjoyed another strong campaign. She finished the year with an average score of 41 and finished in a tie for 50th at the 2A state tourney.

AP tells BCS to stop using its poll
NEW YORK -- The Associated Press has told the Bowl Championship Series to stop using its college football poll to determine which teams play for the national title and in the most prestigious bowl games.

Dolphins offer coaching job to Saban
DAVIE -- The Miami Dolphins offered their coaching job Wednesday to LSU's Nick Saban, the favorite for the position since Dave Wannstedt resigned last month.

O'Neal's has suspension reduced
NEW YORK (AP) -- Jermaine O'Neal won a 10-game reduction Wednesday in his suspension for fighting with fans during the Nov. 19 Pacers-Pistons brawl, but an arbitrator also upheld NBA commissioner David Stern's bans on Ron Artest and two other Indiana players.

Road Rangers get sponsorship
MIAMI (AP) -- The fleet of roadside helpers on Florida's Turnpike known as the Road Rangers has picked up a corporate sponsor and a new name.

Gov. Bush signs most special session bills
TALLAHASSEE (AP) -- Bills to help hurricane victims and to make it easier for families to apply for subsidized insurance for children were signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Jeb Bush.

Florida court decides against issuing an opinion
TALLAHASSEE (AP) -- Nearly four months after making a key decision that preserved the parental notice ballot measure, the state Supreme Court has decided it doesn't need to explain why it took that step.

Four winners in Fantasy 5
TALLAHASSEE (AP) -- Four winners of the Fantasy 5 game will collect $52,323.35 each, the Florida Lottery said Wednesday.

Insurgents attack near Mosul in devastating strike against U.S. forces
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- An explosion tore through a soft-sided mess tent where U.S. soldiers were eating lunch Tuesday at a military base near the northern city of Mosul, blowing a hole in the ceiling and leaving the floor littered with trays of food and puddles of blood. Officials said at least 20 people were killed in one of the most devastating attacks against Americans in Iraq since the start of the war.